Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Aug 14: Political analysts in the state capital claim that Siddaramaiah is almost certain to lose the post of the leader of the opposition in the state assembly which he has been enjoying after losing chief minister's post. In all likelihood, former minister and senior Congress leader, H K Pail, will take over the mantle from Siddaramaiah.

Siddaramaiah, who appears to believe that his leadership is beyond challenge, had projected himself as the automatic choice for the post of the leader of the opposition after the coalition government crashed. Being the leader of the Congress legislature party, it was but normal to think so. But it is said that anti-Siddaramaiah forces in the Congress have joined hands this time as a result of which it is said, the balance is heavily tilted against Siddaramaiah.

As soon as the Congress - JD(S) alliance government in the state lost majority, a number of party leaders opposed to Siddaramaiah rushed to Delhi, met senior leaders and impressed upon them not to give the post of the leader of the opposition to Siddaramaiah at any cost. Names of former ministers, D K Shivakumar, H K Patil and former deputy chief minister, Dr G Parameshwar, had emerged as front runners for this position. At the same time, Siddaramaiah loyalists had brought pressure not to forgo the practice of naming Congress legislature party leader as the leader of the opposition and to give this post to Siddaramaiah. But opponents of Siddaramaiah pointed out that even though Dr Parameshwar was the deputy chief minister, he was not made leader of the Congress legislature party.

Siddaramaiah had tried to support the candidature of former assembly speaker K R Ramesh Kumar, considered close to him, for the post after getting feelers that he may have to sacrifice the post, but this technique failed to work. It is said that at last the party high command has decided to give the post to H K Patil and an official announcement in this regard would be made soon. It is said that the party is thinking of giving an important position in the organizational structure of the party to Siddaramaiah in order to win his confidence. At the same time, Siddaramaiah will be allowed to function as leader of the Congress legislature party, sources confirmed.